Museums

The Cust Museum is a place that portrays the heritage and history of the area bounded by Bennetts, Fernside, the Ashley River, and the Waimakariri River. Also material available for family research. Cust and Districts Historical Records Society Inc administers the Cust Museum, which is housed in the building once the offices of the Waimakariri-Ashley Water Supply Board.Opening Hours: Sunday 2pm - ...

As well as an interesting collection of objects from Kaiapoi’s past, it holds an extensive collection of early photographs, local school photographs, cemetery records, family histories, and the ‘Kaiapoi Record’ newspaper from 1909-1915 on microfilm. Opening Hours: Monday-Wednesday and Friday: 9 am to 5 pm Thursday: 9 am to 7 pm Saturday: 10 am to 2 pm Sunday: 1 pm to 4 pm

The National Scout Museum has a permanent display detailing the history of Scouting in New Zealand starting from Baden Powell's story and his founding of the movement, before covering the origins of Scouting in New Zealand. Kaiapoi features strongly in the New Zealand history of Scouting being where the first Scout Patrol is reputed to have been formed and early camps were held at Woodend where t...

On the outskirts of Rangiora, set on a tranquil rural property, the Northbrook Colonial Museum boasts an extensive range of New Zealand's colonial history. Go back in time and experience some of our fascinating history including an early street comprising shops of butcher, chemist, hardware etc.Opening Hours: By Appointment

The displays are constantly evolving with the arrival of new exhibits that reflect the saw milling, farming and general home-life of the early settlers. There is also a vintage machinery display. Opening Hours: 11am-4pm every Sunday all year round. Between Sept 1st to May 31st every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 1pm to 3.30pm or by arrangement.

Take a step back in time and see how the people of the Rangiora and districts used to live. Rangiora Museum is a local history museum with a very extensive photographic and archival collection covering Rangiora and Districts.